How to Paint a Ceramic Bear

Patience and a steady hand are necessary to properly paint a ceramic bear. Choosing the right paints, colors and brushes--coupled with different techniques--all affect the finished product.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose a ceramic bear to paint based on your skill as a painter. Ornate ceramic bears require a steady hand to properly apply the paint to details and the time necessary to finish the piece properly. A novice painter should choose a simple ceramic bear to hone painting skills.

2. Pick paints in colors and styles to suit your ceramic bear. Traditional ceramic bear colors include browns, blacks and white. For a whimsical approach, choose colors outside of the norm and based solely on your typical decor.

3. Use the proper brushes to paint a ceramic bear. Details on ceramics require small, stiff brushes that come to a point at the top while larger areas of ceramics in one color need a flat or round-shaped brush. Use even strokes with your brushes that are applied in one direction.

4. Apply at least three coats of paint to the ceramic bear to allow for proper paint coverage. After the first coat, allow the piece to dry completely before applying the second coat. Repeat this painting process until you are satisfied with the coverage.

Tips & Warnings

• If your ceramic bear has great detail, paint any background colors first. The detail colors, if darker than the background, can be applied over the initial color.
• Glaze over your finished piece if your ceramic bear is a vase or a dish that needs to be waterproof.